Safety Tips When Going on Hikes

Lyme disease can scare you when you see it in action. So much so that some people 
tend to back off from things that deal with the outdoors. The truth is, you should not stop 
doing the things that you love just because you had a Lyme disease scare. If you are 
into hiking, camping, or other outdoor activities there are some things you can do to 
help keep yourself safe from ticks carrying the disease. Here are some that you can use 
with hiking and can also filter into other outdoor activities.

Use the Trails

One of the first safety tips to help you deter ticks while you are hiking is to use trails. 
You want to make sure you stay on the trails for the hikes because they are maintained. 
This means that you have less thick and dense brush and grass that the ticks can hide 
in and burrow in. This makes it less likely that you will come in contact with the ticks and 
reduces your chances of missing a tick or a small baby tick, which can be the size of a 
poppy seed and hard to detect. 

Pre-Treat Boots and Socks

There are certain ways that you can pre-treat your boots and socks to help deter ticks. 
The reason you want to pre-treat these items is because they are the closest to the 
ground and more likely to come in direct contact with ticks over other parts of your 
clothing. You can pre-treat them using a chemical spray known as permethrin. Sprays 
containing this can be purchased at stores selling outdoor gear and clothing.

Use DEET 

DEET is a chemical commonly found in bug and pest spray that can be used on the 
body to deter bugs during summer months. You can use this directly on your skin in 
either a spray or lotion form. Keep in mind that if you use this type of spray you will need 
to ensure that you first do not have an allergy to it. If you don't have an allergy to it then 
you can use the spray every four hours or as indicated by the manufacturer. 

Bring a Tick Removal Kit

One of the best safety tips for hiking and deterring ticks during that hike is to bring a tick 
removal kit. This kit should have tick removing tweezers, which are different than normal 
tweezers. It should also have some alcohol swabs and something to disinfect and clean 
the area. If you do happen to have a tick on you, then you can remove it and reduce the 
chances of Lyme disease by cleansing the area. 

By keeping these tips for keeping safe from ticks while you are on hikes, you can 
reduce your chances of contracting Lyme disease. You can also use these safety tips 
for other outdoor activities or if you find yourself on long hiking and camping trip 
combination. 
